Camp experience helps kids connect with nature

Local Native American youth aged 10 to 18-years-old participated in the annual event that aims to instill a lifelong appreciation for the environment. Camp attendees came from the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, the Bridgeport Indian Colony, the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation, the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe, and the Timbisha Shoshone Indian Tribe. Fifty-six students and adults stayed at the facility over a five-day period in late July.

Activities included outdoor excursions and lessons on topics such as air quality, geology, water quality, wildlife, botany, cultural awareness, waste management, and astronomy. The goal of the camp was to spark an interest in environmental issues and encourage kids to pursue a career in this multifaceted field.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ventura Office and Bureau of Land Management and Carson City Office provided staff support for the camp. The camp was funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Owens Valley Career Development Center.